Who are we?

Playing Up is a Bath-based theatre company with a justified reputation for superb acting performances and technical excellence. Our shows regularly sell out and we have a loyal and growing support base. We pride ourselves on our attention to detail and no matter how simple the production, the staging must be flawless. This means that the set, sound, lights, costumes and props must be perfect every time. In addition we are firmly dedicated to the idea that live theatre should teach us all something. Playing Up has built a strong reputation performing plays that are relevant to GCSE and A Level students, whether they are curriculum set texts or coursework linked.

How do we do it?

The company consists of teachers, directors, professional and ex-professional actors and technicians with over fifty years experience in theatre between us. This ranges from pantomime to open air Shakespeare, medieval street theatre to musicals, Greek tragedy to farce. Our experience of different staging styles ranges from theatre in the round to traverse, thrust stage to proscenium arch, static open air to mobile street performances. We have worked for other companies, professional and amateur, large and small; appeared in theatres in Bristol, Bath, London, Winchester and Cornwall; performed at festivals ranging from The Edinburgh Fringe and The Bath Fringe to Glastonbury and learnt something important at every stage.

What has united us and led to the creation of Playing Up is a shared belief that theatrical productions should be occasionally thought provoking, often challenging and always enjoyable….for cast and crew as well as for audience. If it isn’t an enjoyable and memorable experience for everyone, then it isn’t worth doing.

Click the menu items above for more information on productions, the people involved and contact information. Click here if you want to join in.

OUR NEXT PRODUCTION

Playing Up will be back at The Rondo on Wed 12th November with Edward Albee’s masterpiece, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?  This will be our fifth anniversary, celebrating that inaugural production of Waiting for Godot back in November 2003.  Albee’s play is a work of genius and Playing Up promise to deliver an electrifying performance.    For information about this play and all of our previous productions, see the Shows page

About the Play    About the Playwright

STOP PRESS

Between Wed 25th and Sat 28th June Darian Nelson and Stephen Curtis will be directing their modern and very funny adaptation of Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales.  First performed in 2003 the script has been dusted off and given a new lease of life with two new tales. This is a modern English version of a classic medieval story and will include The Wife of Bath’s Tale, The Merchant’s Tale, The Franklin’s Tale and The Miller’s Tale (if he’s good!)  Bawdy, rude and very funny they will be performed in the Botanical Gardens in Victoria Park Bath.  This is a charity fund raising event and all profits will be donated to The Friends of The RUH.